Improvement in lasts



J. B. MILLS.

Lasts.

Patent ed April 8, 1873..

6( Mme/NW wharsomxgg Mrmwumusn/mmc ca #1. x aseonwsk PRacmy UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM J. B. MILLS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO MILLS SHOE-MACHINE AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 137,6l6, dated April 8, 1373 application filed September 7, 1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. B. MILLS, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented Improvements in Lasts, of which the following is a specification:

The object of my invention is to increase the efficiency of the last for which Letters Patent No. 126,824 were granted to my assignee, The

Mills Shoe-Machine and Manufacturing Company, of New York, as regards the adjustment of the upper to the last, and the retention of the upper in a proper condition for receiving the finishing-last after it has been stitched to the sole and the sewinglast has been removed.

This object I attain by the addition of the detachable block A and heel-piece B to the said patented sewing-last D, as shown in the side views, Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawing, and the transverse section, Fig. 3, on the line 1 2, Fig. 1.

The construction and object of the sewinglast D have been too fully explained in the aforesaid patent to render a description here necessary.

On the top of the last, toward the toe, is cast or secured an inclined rib, a, adapted to a slot in the detachable block A, and a heelpiece, B, is cast or secured to the top of the last, near the rear of the same.

When the upper has to be adjusted to the sewing-last the block A is fitted to the rib, as shown in Fig. 1, and this block serves to facilitate the adjustment of the upper to the last and to retain the front of the upper in its proper shape, and prevents its distortion durin g'the process of sewing its edge to the sole, while the heel-piece B performs a like duty as regards the rear of the upper. As the block A is detachable, and can be rendered adjustable upon the last, it serves also as ameans of increasing or diminishing the width of the upper for any given size of shoe. After the stitching of the upper to the sole has been completed the block A is withdrawn, and this withdrawal of the block permits the ready removal of the sewing-last from the shoe prior to the introduction therein of the finishinglast, and this introduction is an easy matter,

as the presence of the block A and heel-piece B during the process of sewing the upper to the sole insures the maintenance of the said upper in the best shape and condition for receivin g the finishin g-last.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination, with the sewiuglastD, of a detachable block, A.

2. The combination, with the sewing-last D, of a heel-piece, B.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two sub-.. scribing witnesses.

Witnesses: W. J. B. MILLS.

WM. A. STEEL, JOHN K. RUPERTUs. 

